Abbot to consider warrant articles at meeting

ABBOT, Maine — If Abbot residents approve all of the warrant articles at this month’s annual town meeting, the municipal budget will increase by 11 percent for a total of $201,581.

The town meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, March 15, at the Abbot Town Hall.

Residents will be asked to allow town officials to use funds from the town’s wood-lot account to build a 28-by-30-foot addition to the town office. The account has about $150,000 and the addition is expected to cost about $95,000, according to Selectman Jan Ronco.

An informational meeting on the proposed addition will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 10, at the town office, so residents can get their questions answered before the town meeting.

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Ronco said the addition, which would be on a slab on the southeast end of the town hall, is needed because the current work space is insufficient. More than 100 assessing books are stored in the basement when they should be kept in a fireproof vault, she said.

“We’re looking for more storage, work space and vault space,” Ronco said.

Residents also will discuss a proposal to increase the trash bag fee from 50 cents to $1 to help fund solid waste costs and to encourage more recycling. Ronco said the town has started an expanded recycling program, which should help reduce costs.

A $5,000 request for new playground equipment will be decided by voters. Some of the older playground equipment had to be removed because of safety concerns, and the $5,000, if approved, will purchase some replacement pieces, Ronco said.

The committee heading up Abbot Days has requested $1,200 from the town for a celebration. For the past two years, the committee opted to participate in Guilford’s Riverfest in lieu of Abbot Days, but organizers decided to bring the celebration back to their own community, according to Ronco.

Residents also will discus the veterans honor roll. Town officials have requested $5,000 from surplus to replace the wooden honor roll with a more permanent monument, such as one made of granite.